Pendant mounting for lighting fixtures and the like



y 8, 1952 Y E. B. SPERRY 2,602,623

PENDANT MOUNTING FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 25, 1950 Gttomexgs having detachable means In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view partiall section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 1

'flanges I l, apertures are provided in 'the'webzl3'for'the wires l6, l1 (Fig.1).

Patented July 8, 1952 I PENDANT MOUNTING. FOR'LIGHTIN'G I FIXTURES AND THE LIKE Edward 'B.

Sperry, Fort Atkinson,Wis., assi'gnor to Moe Light, Inc., Fort Atkinson, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin 1 I Application September za ssojseriaiNo'. 18 .430

' Thisinvention relates 'to a pendant mounting for lighting fixtures and the like;

-- The invention contemplates .means which is concealed in'the ultimate position of the fixture and its canopy for the temporary pendant supportof the fixture'during the wiring thereof, such temporary support including links which arejdivergent so as to resist fixture displacement and which collapse into concealed positionswithin the canopy, the canopy and the'mount for the links for maintaining the assembly in its permanent position.

Principal objects of the invention include an arrangement whereby the'divergent links collapse when the fixtureis raisedto its final positionand include offsets for accommodating the permanent mounting pins; the'links and mounting-channel being wholly concealed within the fixture canopy in the elevated final position of the fixture.

inside elevation and partially in longitudinal'section showing a lighting fixture provided witha pendant mounting embodying the invention, the fixture being droppedto wiring position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. v1 showing the parts as they appear when the fixtureiselevated to'its permanent position;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in section the line 3- 53 :ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale taken i n Fig. 5 is afragmentaryplane view or the'assembled fixture and mounting, portions being.

broken away in horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a view on a reduced scale showing in perspective a separated mounting and fixture.

. The threaded stud 1 and nut 8 are used to connect the mounting channel II) to the outlet box 9 in ceiling II. The mounting channel In may be supported entirely by'the stud I or it may receive its support from the screws l2 threaded into the ceiling, or both means of support may be' used as shown. 1 v

The mounting channel 10 opens downwardly as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, its central web-13 being desirably flat against the ceiling with the l5 depending therefrom; Suitable screws l2 and the thread I and for theadmission through the channelof the electrical supply ided near'their ends The webs l4, l5 are pro withre'gistering holes at I8 and inwardly from 12 Claims. (01.24.8 .343)

theends, the'flanges have corresponding slots at The lighting fixture generically designated by reference character has a canopy portion 2| with a downwardly channeled top wall 22 in the canopy portion. It is broadly immaterial to the present invention whether the canopy comprise a separate part, but it will be noted that the invention makes a separate canopy unnecessary.

The width of the channel 23 in the top wall 22 is materially greater than the overall width of the mounting channel II). There are openings 24 in the sides of-the;fixture which register; with openings 25 inthe channel walls 23! and 232 andjar'e' at spacings longitudinally corresponding to the'spacing between the openings l8 in the supporting channel it! fastened tothe ceiling.

..by fingers 34, 35-;

Links are used'forthe temporary support of the fixture from thej supporting channel) during wiring. Each of these links may be made of wire of generally u-shaped form. .The links. are generically designated by reference character 30.

.Each hasia transverse strandof wire 3l' extending through the slots l9oi the mounting channel III. From this depend the le gs.32",.33f which are parallel at an overall spacing whichis less; than the total width of the channel 23 in the topinember22 of the fixture canopy 2!.. The legs 32, 3.3

have outwardly turned, fingers 34, 35 at their lower ends which are engaged laterallyinapertures in the side walls of the channel =23--o f top member 22 of the light fi xture.-canopy. ltgwill be observed that the outermost .ends of the respective slots l9- are'spaced well inwardly from the holes 36, 31 inthe canopy whichare engaged With the fixture depending from the mounting channel 10, as shown in Fig. '1. the links Mare rather sharply divergentin an outward direction toward the ends of the-fixture,thustendingjto hold the fixture stable.n0n+swinging; :position' for-the connection of its wires 38. 39 withthe supply Wires-16 and H. During the makingiof 'jthQ necessary connection; the, entire weight of the fixture is suspended on the links 3ll. 5

v f When the;;wiring operationiis. complete, .1 the fixture 20 is raised;;bodily; 'thus'collapsing the links and 31 and to'the channel 23 of the top wall of the canopy'an'd between the sides of .channel 23 and the flanges M, l5 of the -cfhannelshaped-mounting Hi. The collapsed position of the links is-clearlyl'shown in-Figs. 4 andw. The

collapse of: the link- 30 to-the position-indicated is permitted ,by reason of-the lengthzof slot::..l9.

The lower and outer ends of the divergent links are at a fixed Spacing in the holes 36, 31 of the canopy and consequently all of the displacement must be accommodated at the upper ends of the the mounting pins 40 are inserted through the registering holes in the manner shown in Figs,

4 and 5 to maintain the parts in assembly.

It will be observed that the mounting channel i0 is now entirely concealed within the canopy,

being received bodily to the channel 23, together with the links which provided a temporary suspension for the fixture during wiring. The

only portions of the mounting equipment which are visible are the pins 40. Thesemay be so made as to be hardly perceptible.

It will beobserved that in order-that such pins may be received through. the registering apertures of the fixture and the mounting channel, without interference with the links 30, it

is desirable that the links be bent bodily as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that in the collapsed positions of. the links they will. pass beneath'the plane in which the pins are disposed. This would not be necessary but for the fact that in order to achieve compactness in the particular embodiment disclosed, the slots 19 of the mounting channels are located at one side of the. pin-receiving apertures 18, while the fingers connecting the links with the fixture are located beyond the apertures 18 and, in fact,

beyond the .entrance of the mounting channel as a whole. This gives in limited space the desired. outward and downward divergence of .the links ,30 when the links are in use, as shown "in Fig. 1,, and yet the angular offset of the legs 'of the linkspermits the links to collapse into the" fixture chamber n without interference fwith the mounting pins Afl when the fixture is in its elevated position.

When the fixture is to be repaired or inter- .hang e'd with another fixture, it is only necessary to withdraw the pin in order-to drop 'thefixture to the position shown in"Fig'. l, where it is again supported on the links 30 with its wiring fully accessible.

- The lower ends. of the links have adequate flexibility so'that they maybe bent inwardly to disengage their fingers 34 and 35 from the aperture" of the canopy to completely release the fixture from the mounting channel when de- "sired. The links are simple flexed inwardly again 5 when it is desired to reengage them with a'correspo'ndingly formed canopyof the same or a different lighting fixture.

Since the links are readily engaged singly-and "are-adequate for the support of the fixture at 'all times during assembly or disassembly and :wiring, and since the links remain available for.

this purpose inthe concealed positions in which ethey .are'housedwithin the canopy, it will be apparent :that the lowering'and erection of fixtures of this sort has been greatly facilitated byfthe mounting means "herein disclosed.

I- claim: 1. 'A mounting device for the temporary and permanent support-of a lightingtfixtu're, saididevice comprising a mounting channel having means for'fixing it toa ceiling, a'canopy having to provide stable, temporary supportior' the fixture from the mounting channel. The device of claim 1 in which the links have yieldable free end portions with oppositely 'directed fingers for which the canopy has apertures, the said fingers being detachably engaged in the apertures. 3: The device of claim 2 in which the links comp'risefmembers engaging the mounting channels for which said channels are provided with longitudinally extending slots, the said link members being slidable in the slots upon collapse of the link into the recess of the canopy.

4. A mounting providing temporary and permanent support for a lighting fixture having a channeled canopy, said mounting comprising a mounting channel having means for ceiling support'and being of materially less width than the canopy channel to be bodilyreceived therein, the mounting channel having flanges provided with longitudinal slots, U-shaped links having transverse members slidably and pivotally mounted in the slots, and legs depending from said members and provided with laterially projecting fingers pivotally connected with the canopy, said links being collapsible into the canopy channel between the sides thereof and the flanges of: the mounting channel. I v

5. A mounting providing temporary and permanentsupport for a lightingfixture having a channeled canopy, said mounting comprising amounting channel having means for ceiling support and being of materially less width-than the canopy channel to be bodily received therein, the mounting channel having flanges provided with longitudinal slots, U-shaped links having transverse members slidably and pivotally mounted in the slots, and legs depending divergently from said members and provided with laterally projecting fingers pivotally connected with the canopy, said links being collapsible into the canopy channel between the sides 'thereofand .the flanges of the mounting channel, the said legs being sufiiciently resilient to permit of the springing of the legs for engagementand disengagement of said fingers with the fixture canopy.

the said channel flanges having apertures with which the canopy mounting-pin holes are registrable, and mounting-pin means of a 'length'and diameter to penetrate the mounting-pin holes-of the canopy and'mounting channels "for the'permanent'support of the'canopy.

7; In" a device of the character describedfthe sub-combinationwhich comprises a mounting channel provided with means'for ceilingmounting: and'provided near its ends with mounting- 'pin' holesand 'havingflslots inwardly of such ends,

together with link means having leg portions-colilapsibleialongside of'the mounting channel, and

cross portions slidably mounted in the s1o ts,:said

link means having free end portions adapted for detachable connection with a fixture to be mounted.

8. The device of claim '7 in which the respective link means comprise U-sh-aped members having transverse portions extending through said slots and provided at their free ends with outwardly bent fingers constituting said mounting portions adapted for fixture engagement.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the legs'of the respective link means are bent intermediate their ends to clear the mounting-pin holes when the legs are collapsed externally of the mounting channel as aforesaid. V

10. In combination a mounting channel comprising a central web having means for ceiling support and laterally spaced flanges depending from said web and provided near their ends with mounting-pin holes, and also having, inwardly of said holes, longitudinally extending slots, links, each comprising a U-shaped member having a transverse portion disposed in one of .said slots, and legs spaced to be collapsed externally of-the flanges and ofiset intermediate their ends to bypass the mounting-pin holes, each of said legs 2 being provided at its free end with an outwardly bent finger for lighting fixture engagement.

11. The device of claim 10 including the combination with the lighting fixture having the canopy provided with a recess in which the channel and the legs of said links are bodily receivable,

the said canopy being further provided with side walls having apertures in which the fingers of said legs are engaged with the links at sharply outwardly divergent angles respecting each other, said walls further having apertures spaced inwardly from the apertures engaged by said fingers and registrable with the mounting-pin holes of the mounting channel, and mounting-pins r'novably disposed with registering apertures of the canopy and mounting-pin holes of the channel.

12. A mounting device for the temporary and permanent support of a lighting fixture, said device comprising a mounting channel having means for fixing it to a ceiling, a canopy having a connection with the fixture to be mounted, and collapsible links between said channel and canopy to temporarily support the canopy below said channel, said canopy having a recess wider than the mounting channel to receive telescopically and to conceal said mounting channel and said links in the permanent support position of the canopy.

EDWARD B. SPERRY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Zuley Dec. 5, 1950 Number 

